When the Redbirds (0-1) take the field for the football season home opener against Morehead State (1-0) on Saturday, September 6, at 6 p.m. at Hancock Stadium, they will bring along with them the experience of playing the storied Oklahoma Sooners one week ago.

Illinois State, ranked seventh in the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) poll, look to bounce back from a 35-3 loss played before the largest crowd—83,000 in attendance—to ever see an Illinois State football game.

The Redbirds return 39 letterwinners and 16 starters from last year’s squad, including six players who were selected as preseason All-Americans by Stats Perform. Junior linebacker Tye Niekamp and senior longsnapper Dylan Calabrese were named First-Team selections, senior wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz and senior running back Wenkers Wright earned Second-Team honors, and senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and junior defensive lineman Jake Anderson garnered Third-Team plaudits.

Battle-tested against Oklahoma

Coach Brock Spack, in his weekly press conference, praised the Sooners for their athleticism, size, and speed while praising his own team for its toughness.

“I didn’t feel like we got shoved all over the field,” Spack said. “I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination that happened.”

Spack said his team did get taught a few lessons. One being that if you miss making a play by a half inch, it can turn into a touchdown against an opponent like Oklahoma.

“The margin of error when you’re playing against a really good athlete, a really good player is very slim,” he said. “You pay the price for that.”

Overall, Spack was positive about what he saw from his players.

“We’ve got a pretty good football team,” he said. “We feel good about a lot of things. There are some things we need to get better at if we’re going to win a championship.”

Senior quarterback/wide receiver duo ready to roll

Rittenhouse was injured during the Oklahoma game, but Spack described the injury as “minor.” He said that Rittenhouse suffered a bruised shoulder but should be available for this week’s game.

That’s good news as Rittenhouse is now a senior. He and Sobkowicz, also a senior, began their college football journeys together and are in their final season as Redbirds. They frequently connect on pass plays and are good friends off the field. There’s comfort in their familiarity.

“I feel our chemistry has developed really well over the years, coming in at the same age and staying here for five years,” Rittenhouse said. “It’s kind of rare to see that, especially with the QB-wide receiver duo. It’s nice to have that, and he’s one of my best friends.

“Dan is a great third-down man, but when you need a jump ball, he goes up and gets it every time. He’s very versatile and has a really nice vertical on him.”

At 6-3, 205 pounds, Sobkowicz is a big target. Among the career leaders in receiving, Sobkowicz started humbly as a walk-on after following a similar path as his older brother, Max, who played at Illinois State. Sobkowicz likes the way Rittenhouse plays the game.

“Tommy is always locked in on everything we do,” Sobkowicz said. “He knows exactly what he needs to do with the ball, and his decision making is really good. He is laser-focused all the time.

“I am a bigger receiver, but I feel like I can play in the slot or out wide—I’m pretty flexible with that. And, yeah, if you need me on a third down, I’m there.”

Rittenhouse hates to lose and takes pride in his competitive nature, in being a good leader, and in his ability to manage a game. But he doesn’t mind improvising if he sees an open lane when a called pass play isn’t developing fast enough.

“I think I’m pretty much a dual-threat quarterback,” he said. “I try to run and spread the ball out with my arm as much as I can and try to find that good balance and just try to herd defenses with that. I think it’s a big advantage to be able to run against defenses when the pocket collapses.”

Kicking off the home season

While playing before the home crowd this week at Hancock Stadium in Normal will see a much smaller crowd than last Saturday in the massive Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, the enthusiastic support will be a welcome sight and sound for Illinois State players. Rittenhouse and Sobkowicz, who hail from the Chicago suburbs, are accustomed to seeing plenty of familiar faces in the stands at home games.

Both are focused on Morehead State but have had moments of reflection leading up to the start of this senior season. They talked about what it means to be a Redbird.

“It’s the people here and the coaches, and how we mesh really well together,” Sobkowicz said. “Even freshman year, I didn’t feel like a walk-on when I came here. I had the same opportunity as anyone else, and it felt like home. I think the coaches and the players and the culture we have here are awesome.”

Rittenhouse echoed his teammate’s feelings.

“Yeah, same as Dan, I think it’s the culture and the people,” he said. “I think this is a special place, and it feels like home not too far from home. It’s a fun time down here.”

Tickets are available to see Rittenhouse, Sobkowicz, and their Redbird teammates host six home games this season.